Traction battery pack port assembly

Abstract

A traction battery pack port assembly includes an inner spigot that is securable in an installed position relative to an enclosure. The inner spigot is connectable to a battery pack conduit at a position inside the enclosure when the inner spigot is in the installed position. A fastener has an aperture that receives a portion of the inner spigot and secures the inner spigot to the enclosure. An outer spigot is removably securable to the inner spigot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A traction battery pack port assembly, comprising:
 an inner spigot that is securable in an installed position relative to an enclosure, the inner spigot connectable to a battery pack conduit at a position inside the enclosure when the inner spigot is in the installed position;   a fastener having an aperture that receives a portion of the inner spigot and secures the inner spigot to the enclosure; and   an outer spigot removably securable to the inner spigot.   
     
     
         2 . The traction battery pack port assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer spigot is secured to the inner spigot with a twist-lock. 
     
     
         3 . The traction battery pack port assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a nut. 
     
     
         4 . The traction battery pack port assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the nut is a hex nut. 
     
     
         5 . The traction battery pack port assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the fastener engages an external thread of the inner spigot when securing the inner spigot to the enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The traction battery pack port assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the inner spigot includes a tool engagement interface. 
     
     
         7 . The traction battery pack port assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer spigot and the inner spigot are fluidly connected when the outer spigot is secured to the inner spigot. 
     
     
         8 . The traction battery pack port assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener engages the inner spigot at a position outside the enclosure. 
     
     
         9 . The traction battery pack port assembly of  claim 8 , wherein an annular portion of the enclosure is clamped between the fastener and an annular flange of the inner spigot when the inner spigot is in the installed position. 
     
     
         10 . The traction battery pack port assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener, the inner spigot, and the outer spigot are concentric with each other when the inner spigot is both secured to the enclosure with the fastener and secured to the outer spigot. 
     
     
         11 . The traction battery pack port assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner spigot extends from a position outside the enclosure to a position inside the enclosure when the fastener is securing the inner spigot to the enclosure. 
     
     
         12 . The traction battery pack port assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner spigot and the outer spigot are a polymer-based material. 
     
     
         13 . The traction battery pack port assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal compressed by the fastener against the enclosure when the fastener is securing the inner spigot to the enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . The traction battery pack port assembly of  claim 1 , wherein, when the outer spigot is secured to the inner spigot, the inner spigot and the outer spigot provide a liquid communication path extending between an interior of the enclosure and an area that is outside of the enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . A traction battery pack port providing method, comprising:
 receiving a portion of an inner spigot within an aperture of a fastener;   using the fastener to secure the inner spigot in an installed position, the inner spigot secured to an enclosure and connectable to a battery pack conduit at a position inside the enclosure when the inner spigot is in the installed position; and   removably securing an outer spigot to the inner spigot when the inner spigot is in the installed position.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the outer spigot is removably securable to the inner spigot from outside the enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising using a twist-lock to secure the outer spigot to the inner spigot. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the inner spigot extends from outside the enclosure to inside the enclosure when in the installed position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fastener, the inner spigot, and the outer spigot are concentric with each other when the inner spigot is both secured to the enclosure with the fastener and secured to the outer spigot.